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Feb 19
2010
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A Few Thoughts on the Church of EnglandPosted by RyanFowler in Untagged |
Last week, I followed the proceedings of the Church of England's General Synod, via my computer. I have to admit, the whole affair has left me a bit heartbroken. While the Church of England did acknowledge the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), they did not officially recognize them as being genuinely Anglican. This is good and bad, in my mind. First of all, maybe not being in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury isn't such a bad thing, given the fact that he's quite possibly a liberal flake. However, I know for many Anglicans, the issue has historical and emotional ties, and I don't take that lightly. But maybe conservative, orthodox (read: biblical) Anglicans need to stop trying to be recognized by the liberal wing. Maybe the idea needs to be reframed as "hey, liberals, we don't recognize you! You all are the ones in exile, not us." I know this is easier said than done for the actual conservatives in the Church of England, because of the legal status of the church in that country. However, in America, we can do what we want, thank you very much (for now, anyway). I believe the conservatives should set the rules for what it means to be Anglican, completely break away from the liberal crowd that is simply "playing church," and move on!
However, I feel very sad because following the General Synod has shown me just how godless the once great land of England has become. Being an armature genealogist, and researching my family tree quite extensively, I know that the majority of my people come from Great Britain. I also know many of them were Anglicans. I have read some of their papers they left behind, and believe a good number of them to have been godly men who had firm grasps on the Gospel. It saddens me greatly to see the homeland of my ancestors being overrun by atheism and even Islamic Sharia law. It saddens me that a once great branch of Christianity has been overrun by liberals who don't know the first thing about the Bible, but rather want to use a church to press their intolerant, hate filled agendas. You might not know it today, but did you know the Church of England (and her American counterpart the Episcopal Church) has brought us some great Christian men through-out history!
- C.S. Lewis-one of the greatest apologists of all time (not to mention an all around brilliant scholar and a great fiction writer)
- J.I. Packer-he's one of the greatest and most influential modern day theologians we have!
- Alister McGrath-another great modern day theologian and apologist
- John Newton-Church of England pastor and writer of perhaps the most famous hymn ever composted, Amazing Grace
- Early U.S. presidents such as George Washington, James Madison, James Monroe
- George Whitefield, a key preacher in the Great Awakening
- Author T.S. Elliott
Some evangelicals might argue the Anglican Church is irrelevant and not needed today. I disagree. It is needed! It has often been commented that the Anglican movement is a "middle path" between Catholicism and Protestantism. Many Christians cannot, in good conscience, follow the Papacy, and other unbiblical doctrines found within the Church of Rome. However, they recognize the historical place of the Catholic Church, apostolic succession, and the early church fathers, and don't want to "throw the baby out with the bathwater." For these Christians, a conservative, biblically based Anglican Church would be (and in the past has been) the solution. Although for most of my life I was part of the Southern Baptist movement (though I am not affiliated with that denomination any longer), I still see the need for the Anglican Church to continue! And I hope you will join me in praying that God revives this once great movement, and wakes up the people of England to accept the Gospel!
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